Pot Shots: Seaford appoints Scott Manders as head coach

We’ve rounded up the latest cricket news from around the Mornington Peninsula, including a coaching appointment, a packet of recruits for a Provincial club and a whisper of how the 2020-21 fixture might look.

Scott Manders bowling for Seaford. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Experienced all-rounder Scott Manders has been promoted to head coach of Seaford for the 2020-21 season.

He shared the role last season with Josh Trevitt, the pair helping Seaford reach the MPCA Sub District grand final.

Trevitt has stepped down to focus on the club presidency and family balance.

Manders has been a fine player with Seaford for almost two decades and last season scored his maiden century on his way to a 417-run season.

Seaford skipper Ryan McQueen on the drive. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

Champion batsman Ryan McQueen will continue to skipper Seaford’s First XI – and he admitted he was still smarting after last season’s grand final was scrapped because of COVID-19.

He felt his side was primed to hoist the flag. Seaford swept into the flag decider on the back of a resounding win in the semis, with McQueen blasting 167. Frankston YCW was awarded the premiership because of its higher ranking on the ladder.

Seaford’s star recruit Matthew Roach will also take on leadership position in the bowling department to help all bowlers in the club.

Scott Rodda and Scott Goodwin will continue as captains of the seconds and thirds respectively.

Club great David Anderson will continue as our Seaford chairman of selectors.

Southern Districts skipper Kierran Voelkl in the runs. Picture: Glenn Campbell

KIZZA’S CRISP FORM

Dromana batting star Kierran Voelkl continues his golden winter in Darwin.

He cracked 54 last weekend to steer his unbeaten Southern Districts to an easy win over Tracy Village.

“Kizza’’, who is captain-coach of the Crocs, will be a key player in Darwin’s Strike League T20 competition which hits off on Sunday. He is in the Blaze line-up.

And there is another MPCA connection at Southern Districts; club vice president is non other than former Mornington and Pearcedale paceman Brett Whelan.

TEMPTING OFFER

Voelkl, by the way, seems to have a big decision to make about where he’s going to play cricket later in the year.

He has stated he was keen to return to Victorian Premier Cricket ranks, but the whisper is he’s got offers to play in Adelaide and New Zealand.

Mt Eliza's Shaun Knott zings one past Baxter's Daniel Warwick in the 2016-17 grand final.

RECRUITS MOUNT UP

A few months back most of the news coming out of Mt Eliza was about players leaving.

How things have changed.

The Mounties have been busy adding recruits in recent weeks, the most notable being big left-arm paceman Shaun Knott.

Now former Rye and Tootgarook hard-hitting batsman Tim Symons has also joined Mt Eliza and will skipper the club’s seconds. He played with Mounties coach Tom Baron at Rye.

“Tim’s knowledge will help develop and promote our young cricketers,’’ Mt Eliza said.

Ferntree Gully opening batsman Jarrod Dennis has also joined the Mounties. He’s churned out plenty of runs in recent seasons and is seen as a First XI player.

And the arrivals are set to continue at Madsen Reserve, with Baron telling us “we will hopefully have a new signing in the next few days’’.

NEW TEAM

The search continues for recruits to play in the all-new Over 50s Mornington Peninsula cricket side this summer.

Former Victorian skipper Darren Berry has reportedly said he will play, while Peter Buchanan is keen to have a run if his new knee will allow.

Others on the list of possibilities are Brad Glenn, Henry Dolphin, Gary Rees, Alan Davie, Jamie Jewiss and Michael Spring.

THE WHISPER

While a cloud of uncertainty sits over when the MPCA season will start, the rumour is the fixture might only be one-day games…with a best of three grand final. We will see…